Martin
It is the protein in
natural rubber latex that is the sensitiser that can cause asthmatic
reactions. The airborne exposure potential only occurs when this protein is
bonded to the epicholohydrin cross linked corn starch used as glove powder.
If you use
unpowdered, low protein gloves then the potential for an airborne exposure
is so minimal that a risk assessment will show an extremely low risk every
time. I do not believe that you will need to do an individual risk
assessment for every worker. A generic risk assessment would be more than
sufficient.
How would you
possibly go latex free? Latex is used in so many different items found in
hospitals today that this would be an extremely expensive exercise. For
example, your glove costs, bearing in mind that the only practical
and safe alternative to NRL is nitrile, would probably double - and be
a totally unnecessary additional cost.
If you want to know more about this let me
know. I have a Technical Bulletin on latex that I will happily e-mail you
free of charge that shows you some of the evidence. It shows how irritant
reactions are the most common result of wearing gloves in health care,
followed by type IV reaction to the chemicals used in NRL gloves (and found
in most nitrile as well!), with the real latex allergy only in third
place.
Regards
Chris Packham
EnviroDerm Services
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 9:42
PM
Subject: Latex in the NHS
As latex is
defined as an asthmagen in COSHH 2002 and the
reference "asthmagens, a critical appraisal of the evidence", we should be
doing respiratory health surveillance on every person using latex gloves
in the hospital (I am talking non-powdered).
This is
almost every employee as latex gloves are inappropriately used in all
areas!
Any
thoughts on how this could be done with already scarce resources - looks
like we will need to consider going fully latex
free.
Dr Martin
Tohill
MB BCH BAO
MRCGP AFOM DOccMed
Occupational
Physician
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